The chair at the head of the Menchville bench remained empty throughout the boys basketball team’s game at Phoebus on Tuesday.

Across the seat, the Monarchs had draped a yellow towel inscribed with all their names, a tribute to head coach Ben Moore, who died unexpectedly Saturday at age 61.

“We...

]]>Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:55:00 PSTMenchville basketball coach Ben Moore was about so much more than wins and lossesDave Johnsonhttp://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/more/dp-spt-ben-moore-1213-story.html
It was a winter’s night nearly eight years ago, and basketball practice had ended at Warwick High. As head coach Ben Moore and assistant Earl Hester chatted about the Raiders’ upcoming game, a young man walked into the gym carrying a suitcase.

]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2017 23:40:00 PSTSunday's high school roundup: Oscar Smith again loses to Westfield for state football title; Highland Springs, Salem, Hopewell, Appomattox, Riverheads take championshipsStaff, wire reportshttp://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/more/dp-spt-high-school-football-20171210-story.html
Westfield beat Oscar Smith in a state football championship game for the third year in a row, defeating the Tigers 28-21 Sunday in the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 showdown at Hampton University’s Armstrong Stadium.

Ryan Stover hit a 3-pointer with about one second remaining Friday night, giving Tabb a 54-53 home victory over Smithfield.

The Packers had led virtually the entire game.

Nick Thomas scored 17 points for the Tigers, while Marcus Custis led Smithfield with 16. ...

Josh Moore scored...

]]>Fri, 8 Dec 2017 22:20:00 PSTState championship games postponed due to weatherJonathan Heeterhttp://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/more/dp-spt-vhsl-state-football-championships-weather-postponed-1209-story.html
The VHSL moved its state championship football games — four of which are on the Peninsula — back one day because of suspected inclement weather.

The VHSL championships will now be Sunday, with two games each at Hampton University and William and Mary. HU hosts the Class 5 and 6 title games, while...

Lamont Strothers has been named the new head coach of the Smithfield High boys basketball team, Packers athletic director Lawrence Rotruck announced Wednesday.

The former NBA player replaces Richard Pullen, who stepped down in October after nine seasons at the helm of the program.

Strothers spent...

]]>Wed, 6 Dec 2017 20:55:00 PSTLast two area football teams, Lafayette and Poquoson, fought to the finishKate Yanchulishttp://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/more/dp-spt-prep-football-lafayette-poquoson-season-review-20171205-story.html

The last two Peninsula-area football teams standing both suffered similar fates in their state semifinal defeats Saturday.

Both the Lafayette and Poquoson High teams recovered from slow first halves and remained alive until the last possible second, yet neither managed to move on to compete for...

]]>Wed, 6 Dec 2017 21:40:00 PSTLafayette rallies, but Louisa survives as king of its 'Jungle' in state Class 4 semifinalKate Yanchulishttp://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/more/dp-spt-prep-football-lafayette-louisa-county-state-semifinal-20171202-story.html

Despite a resurgent second half, Lafayette could not overcome its stagnant start in Saturday’s VHSL Class 4 state semifinal.

The Rams lost 20-13 to Louisa County, falling a victory short of a state championship appearance for the second straight season.